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eMOLT Update 2025-01-31
Weekly Recap
A huge thanks to all of the fishermen and scientists who showed up to
the Cooperative Research Summit in Portland, Maine earlier this week.
It’s inspirational to see the results of research projects and hear
ideas from all of you about how cooperative research can be applied
moving forward. Also many thanks to Tommy and Owen from the Center for
Coastal Studies for their dedication and professionalism taking care of
a particularly challenging installation on the F/V Nemesis.

Figure 1. Tommy with a newly installed external GPS on the roof
of the F/V Nemesis
After the Summit, Huanxin and George headed to New Bedford to install
a new system on the F/V Eagle, and the Rutgers team set up on the F/V
Susan L. Thanks to Captains George and Jake for your assistance on the
installs, and welcome to the eMOLT fleet!
This week, the eMOLT fleet recorded 56 tows of sensorized fishing
gear totaling 120 sensor hours underwater. The warmest recorded bottom
temperature was 53.7 F near Hudson Canyon in approximately 76 fathoms
(red profile) and the coldest recorded bottom temperature was 38.7 F
along the backside of Cape Cod in in approximately 9 fathoms (blue
profile). Below, you can see these profiles plus a few other temperature
profiles of interest across the region from the last week.

Figure 2 – Temperature profiles collected by eMOLT participants
over the last week. The blue profile is where the coldest bottom
temperature was measured and the red profile is where the warmest bottom
temperature was measured. All other colors are assigned randomly.
Colored points on the map indicate where profiles of the same color were
collected. The small dark green dots represent other profiles collected
this week, but not highlighted in the plot. Note that the warmest /
coldest bottom temperatures measured could have occurred during gear
soaks, which are not represented on this profile plot.
System Hardware Upgrade List
The following vessels remain on our list for hardware upgrades. If
you aren’t on the list and think you should be, please reach out.
Note that this list is different from our new install
queue.
- F/V Kaitlyn Victoria
- F/V Kyler C
- F/V Noella C
- F/V Sea Watcher I
- F/V Virginia Marise
Bottom Temperature Forecasts
Doppio
This week, 68% of bottom temperature observations were within 2
degrees (F) of the Doppio forecasted value at those points and 98% were
within 5 degrees (F). The model performed best near Cape Cod and South
of Long Island. Observations were generally warmer than predicted along
the shelf break and on the northern edge of Georges Bank. Temperatures
were cooler than predicted south of Rhode Island.

Figure 3 – Performance of the Doppio forecast’s bottom
temperature layer over the last week relative to observations collected
by eMOLT participants. Red dots indicate areas where bottom temperature
observations were warmer that predicted. Blue dots indicate areas where
bottom temperature observations were cooler than predicted. Bottom
temperature observations are compared with the most recent forecast run
available before the observation was made.

Figure 4 – The most recent Doppio bottom temperature forecast.
The gray line is the 50 fathom line and the black line is the hundred
fathom line. Purple shades indicate cooler water.
Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System

Figure 5 – The most recent bottom temperature forecast from the
Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System GOM7 model. Purple shades
indicate cooler water.

Figure 6 – The most recent bottom temperature forecast from the
Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System MassBay model. Purple shades
indicate cooler water.
Announcements
Come Visit Us!
If you’re at the Mass Lobstermen’s Trade Show in Hyannis on Saturday
2/1, come by the GOMLF / eMOLT booth and say hello! Also, bring your
friends if you think they’d be interested in a box! We are actively
recruiting vessels for the MassTech funded expansion.
All the best,
-George and JiM
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